He's made a big impact with viewers since arriving on Emmerdale on the hour-long Christmas Day special, and new soap star Jay Kontzle is now getting used to being recognised for his role as newcomer Billy Fletcher.

Jay's bad boy character Billy turned up to shock his mum Jessie Grant on her wedding day and has since come to blows with Aaron Dingle, who he bullied and persecuted during their time together in prison.

Before joining the award-winning soap the 28-year-old pursued a career in music and was a member of boyband The Mend, who were runners-up to cute dancing dog Pudsey on Britain's Got Talent in 2012.

The story of his success is even more incredible considering Jay had such a heartbreaking start to life.

At just three-months-old he suffered a fractured skull when a car hit his mum Louise on a pelican crossing, ploughing his pram through a shop window.

Jay, who was hailed a 'miracle baby', says his mum saved his life by taking the brunt of the accident.

At the age of four tragedy struck when Louise, a DJ who played Manchester's legendary Hacienda nightclub, was killed in a car accident on the way to a gig. She was just 21-years-old.

Jay was then raised by his grandparents Ann and Mike Kontzle.

Speaking to the Manchester Evening News in an exclusive interview at the Lowry Hotel, he said: "I believe all these negative things help to build your character."

Jay worked to inspire youngsters after his tragic start in life (Image: Vincent Cole)

"After The Mend I worked at a school with children with special educational needs and because of everything I have been through I wanted to show them that it's possible for anyone to get where they want to be.

"I tried to give them a positive outlook."

As well as acting Jay is writer and executive producer of a new short film called Underwater about the highs and lows of teenage life which tackles the issue of mental health in teenage boys, a cause close to his heart because of his own struggles.

The film will star Our Girl actress and former Corrie star Angela Lonsdale, former Waterloo Road actor Jason Done and Audenshaw schoolboy Dylan Naden who starred in Cowboy Dave, which won in the Best Short Film category at the BAFTAs.

Jay's first scene in Emmerdale (Image: ITV/Emmerdale)

Jay, from Crewe, has his mum, his Blues musician grandfather and his great-grandmother Alma Watling who played the ukulele, to thank for inspiring his love of music.

He joined The Mend, who were formed in Manchester by ex-Take That manager Nigel Martin-Smith, in 2008 and he chose joining a boyband over a part in Rochdale-based school drama Waterloo Road.

Jay and his fellow bandmates Kris Evans, Dean Kelly and Craig Worsley moved to America in the hope of making it big in the States.

The original line-up of the The Mend Jay Kontzle, Craig Worsley, Kris Evans and Dean Kelly on Britain's Got Talent

They worked with Michael Jackson's vocal coach and performed at the rock and roll nightclub Whisky a Go Go in West Hollywood, where the likes of Guns N' Roses and The Doors have performed.

But Jay says the band "fizzled out" and they split in 2016.

Jay, who trained at the Manchester School of Acting, is now doting dad to two adorable children KaiBo, two, and Zian, who is seven-months-old.

He met his wife artist Mimi on a night out in Nantwich and they've been married three years.

His character turned up at his mum's wedding to Marlon Dingle (Image: ITV/Emmerdale)

The family are hoping to move to Leeds where the soap is filmed and Jay is looking forward to attending his first National Television Awards on Tuesday, which will be broadcast on TV live from London's O2 arena.

Emmerdale is up for best soap and castmates Emma Atkins (Charity Dingle), Lucy Pargeter (Chas Dingle) and James Moore (Ryan Stocks) are also nominated for best actress and best newcomer awards.

"For me it's nice to do something that provides for my family," he told us.

"My character has got many layers. He's got a nice side and a dark side which will come out.

"His father died when he was young and he always felt that because of his background he got on the wrong side of the track.